WOMAN ’ S EXPONENT: A Utah Ladies’ Journal

A Utah Ladies’ Journal

The Woman’s Exponent, founded in Salt Lake City in 1872, was one of the earliest periodicals for women in the United States. Published by female members of the Church, it had the approval of the Church hierarchy.

The development of a woman’s periodical was encouraged by Edward L. Sloan, editor of the Salt Lake Herald, who allowed the new publication the use of his newspaper presses during the first year of the Exponent’s existence. Brigham Young . . . and the General Authorities of the Church urged women to support it.

The aim of the Exponent, according to its editors— first Lula Greene Richards and later Emmeline B. Wells—was to provide a vehicle that would speak for women at large, and readers were invited to express their own views and feelings for publication.

Preceded by two short-lived women’s periodicals in San Francisco and one in Oregon, the Exponent had the distinction of being the first long-lasting magazine printed by women west of the Mississippi River. Its readership included women, in Europe as well as throughout America, who sought to learn more about the opinions and attributes of Mormon women. In 1898 it was exhibited in the women’s hall of the World’s Fair at the Hague [Holland], where its defense of plural marriage created considerable interest.

The Exponent was always given support by Eliza R. Snow, general president of the Relief Society, and for a time it became the official instrument of that organization. Its publication ceased in February of 1914.

The following article appeared at the beginning of each issue of the Woman’s Exponent:

The women of Utah today occupy a position which attracts the attention of intelligent, thinking men and women everywhere. They are engaged in the practical solution of some of the greatest social and moral problems of the age, and a powerful interest is manifested throughout the United States and, it may be said, the entire civilized world, to learn from reliable sources the views honestly entertained by them on these questions.

They have been grossly misrepresented through the press, by active enemies who permit no opportunity to pass of maligning and slandering them, and with but limited opportunity of appealing to the intelligence and candor of their fellow countrymen and countrywomen in reply.

Who are so well able to speak for the women of Utah as the women of Utah themselves? It is better to represent ours than to be misrepresented by others!

For these reasons, and that women may help each other by the diffusion of knowledge and information possessed by many and suitable to all, the publication of Woman’s Exponent, a journal owned by, controlled by, and edited by Utah ladies, has been commenced.

The aim of this journal will be to discuss every subject interesting and valuable to women. It will contain a brief and graphic summary of current news, local and general, household hints, educational matters, articles on health and dress, correspondence, editorials on leading topics of interest suitable to its columns, and miscellaneous reading.

It will aim to defend the right, inculcate sound principles, and disseminate useful knowledge.

Utah, in its Female Relief Societies, has the bestorganized benevolent institution of the age; yet, but little is known of the self-sacrificing labors of these societies. In Woman’s Exponent, a department will be devoted to reports of their meetings and other matters of interest connected with their workings; and to this end, the Presidents and Secretaries of the various Societies throughout the Territory are requested to furnish communications which will receive due attention.*

*Excerpts from Daughters of Utah Pioneers, December 1993 lesson, compiled by Emma R. Olsen and Beatrice B. Malouf.